LaPorte Man Sentenced on Federal Child Porn Charges

A LaPorte man was sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison on child pornography-related charges.

According to the United States Department of Justice’s Northern Indiana District, 35-year-old Ronald Wheaton received his sentence on Wednesday. He was facing charges of Distribution of Child Pornography.

According to U.S. Attorney David Capp, Wheaton allegedly transferred files containing child pornography to an undercover Indiana State Police officer in March of 2014. Documents in the case indicate that a peer-to-peer filing sharing system was used to share the illegal images.

Officers obtained a search warrant for Wheaton’s residence – which was executed in July of 2014. During a search of the home, additional child pornography was allegedly located.

The case was sufficiently involved to warrant investigation by Indiana State Police and the FBI prior to arrest. In total, Wheaton was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison in the case.